The night was like any other. A rustling breeze brushed across the windows of a towering complex. Inside of a single apartment lay a white haired teen, her features scrunched while her mouth was parted in a silent gasp. Akihane tossed and turned on her bed, shaking the covers from her shivering form.
Flashes of blood worked their way through her head, the horrified screams of a man before death echoing in her ears.
Her body jerked upright, her eyes wide with shock and fear as a silent scream spilt over her lips.
Her body trembled and she folded over herself, trying and failing to calm down as she shook.
The end of the Preliminaries had occurred three days ago. The match after Hinata's was one between the Suna Kunoichi, Temari, and a member of Team Kabuto by the name of Tsurugi Misumi. Misumi had not stood a chance against Temari and her mastery of wind Jutsu. A few quick blows took down the very flexible Genin.
After that, Ino and Sakura had been pitted against one another. In a rather odd twist Sakura had pinned Ino, only to nearly end up failing after being taken control of by her once friend. Even so, by the end of the match Sakura and Ino had both lost after they both lost consciousness from a final punch.
Next Rock Lee had faced off against Inuzuka Kiba. Kiba was adept in Taijutsu, but faced with a growing master such as Lee, he wasn't able to do much of anything. Even so, both boys gave it their all. Lee had won that match without much trouble.
Following that match, Choji had stepped up to face off against Odoriko Yarui from Iwagakure. That match hadn't been nearly as cutthroat. In fact, Yarui had wished Choji luck in their match while grinning. The boy was surprisingly adept in Taijutsu, but he also dabbled a bit in chakra-based attacks. He worked around Choji fairly well, managing to push the Konoha Genin to using his Human Boulder technique while he had slipped into a rather unknown Taijutsu stance.
At the time Akihane had been confused, but Maito Gai had cleared things up with his surprised commenting. Apparently the style that Yarui had chosen to use as a 'lost' style in Iwa. The style revolved around using chakra to create afterimages, much like the Dance of the Moon technique, only instead of clones acting as the buffer it used quick but fluid movements. Each strike added power to the next move, every strike hidden behind afterimages that continued to affect Choji.
In the end, the most surprising event of the match was when Yarui stopped Choji in his bolder form with one smooth punch to the oncoming Nin. Power had flowed perfectly, sending Choji right into the wall behind him.
Yarui won his match soundly, but he also won the respect of the Konoha Nin when he helped Choji up after being declared the winner.
Then, there was the last match.
Just thinking about that final match brought Akihane into a close panic once more. She felt like her heart was being crushed, exactly as Dosu had been.
Subaku no Gaara was the youngest of the remaining Sand Nin, and yet he was the most feared. Akihane could still recall how much anger and bloodlust Gaara had exuded the moment the match had started. She could recall the insane look that had grown across his face as Dosu of Oto refused to back down.
Each part of that match had struck her with horror and a deep feeling of wrongness. The only time Akihane had felt that much pent up anger in one being was when she was in the presence of the Kyuubi.
In the end, Kakashi had to remove her from the Arena because her already overloaded Chakra Points were fluctuating dangerously while she froze up in the face of Gaara's insane glee. The blood had run across the floor and had seeped into Gaara's sand in rivers. There had been nothing left of Dosu when Gaara had finished except for crushed red spots decorating his sand. Even then, the blood had soon vanished and integrated itself into Gaara's sand.
Akihane was not too sure what had happened next, but from what Kakashi had let her know, she should be glad she was not there.
Ever since then she could not sleep right and she found that her chakra reacted badly to any form of negative impact. Yin's seal seemed to pulse more than normal, blue lines often decorating her skin as she tossed and turned at night.
Carefully Akihane drew her limbs out in front of her, drawing in her breaths slowly as she started to stretch her arms and legs. Within a minute or so, she had moved to simple stretches off the bed before she finally began her round of Pushups, Sit-ups, Plank to pushups, some squats, and pullups from her doorframe. Once she had finished those exercises, she turned to the doors and grabbed her jacket and headband, heading out to her training ground.
From then to sunrise the next day she worked herself through her exercises, focusing on something other than that last match.
I~~~~I
After her debacle with sleep, Akihane decided she needed a break. In a true womanly fashion, she decided on a day on her own at the bathhouse.
The bathhouse was a simple building by the name of the Broken Tree. It was the number one spa in Konoha for Shinobi, if mainly Kunoichi. There was a pair of segregated baths that were rather large and could hold an abundance of Shinobi.
The bathhouse currently housed several off-duty Kunoichi that wanted to relax either on their own or with friends. Soft laughter and even a bit of splashing could be heard as Akihane stepped out into the fence area.
She sighed at the warmth around her, taking in the medicinal aroma that had her muscles un-tensing on reflex. She had come to the Broken Tree with Hinata and Sasuke more than once, and she had even been dragged along by her sister, Yugau. Sometimes Anko or Kurenai would join them, but mostly it was just her or the two others.
Even without anyone with her, Akihane planned on enjoying herself to the fullest. With that in mind, she chose a rather secluded spot in the bath and stepped in, sinking down until she sat comfortably in the murky but soothing water. Her back pressed at the walls of the bath, the rough stone pressing at her skin in a rather comfortable manner. Several conversations made their way to her ears, but she tuned them out in favor of thinking about the events that had occurred the past months.
From the point of her becoming a Genin to now, she had experienced numerable changes. She had discovered her family, killed her first time, cried in someone's arms, laughed with friends, revealed her status, and broken a promise to Shisui. The Kyuubi had been sealed further by a mysterious red-headed Nuke nin working alongside the Hebi Sannin Orochimaru, while Hinata and Sasuke had both pushed and made it to the finals in the Chunin Exams alongside her and several others. She had experienced fear and she had witnessed brutal killings, one at the hands of the Sand Nin Gaara.
So much had happened and when she looked back on it Akihane wondered how she had made it through everything.
Of course, she had those that cared about her, such as Hayate, Genma, Iwashi, Raidou, Yugau, her Jiji, Kakashi, Sasuke, Hinata, and even the rest of the Konoha Rookies.
Nevertheless, Akihane was glad to be able to finally reflect and sort through everything. Her emotions were on thin wires with Yin's seal messing with her favored methods of dealing. Now was simply a time she could use in order to put everything into order.
Her ears twitched when she heard a soft sound. Something was off with the sound. Its pitch wasn't nearly as light as those of the women around her. In fact, the pitch rather reminded Aki of her Sensei whenever he was reading his damned book.
She closed her eyes and channeled a tiny amount of chakra, allowing a clone to form in the treetops above her. With a near-invisible pulse she traded places with her clone. No one seemed any the wiser, which left Aki on her own.
She turned and surveyed the area around the bathhouse, pausing in annoyance when she noticed something strange and rather disturbing. A man, looking a little old with his white hair, crouched beside the fence of the Kunoichi baths. He was giggling perversely as he jotted things down in his little pocket notebook, his pen working fiercely. A red robe covered his back while it looked like he wore a green kimono underneath it. A rather large scarf hung off his back, waving each time he scribbled something down.
Akihane's mouth twitched and she summoned forth her chakra, feeling rather vindictive. The towel wrapped around her body henged into a rather nice dark blue robe, her loose white hair rising slightly as her chakra shot toward the perverted man.
"Oi, Ero-Oji, what do you think you're doing?"
Aki hissed under her breath, her eyes sharpening into red daggers as the ground beneath the older male sunk in, two clones popping up from the sides of the man as water fell over his head, wind circling in deadly grace.
The man yelled, several women calling out from the bathhouse. Within seconds, the women had vanished, leaving Akihane with the perverted man.
The white haired man looked at her in shock, his eyes wide. Akihane continued to glare, her chakra boiling below her skin.
She hated Perverts.
I~~~~I
Hiruzen sighed heavily at the scene in front of him. Akihane stood in her training clothes with his white haired student. The esteemed seal master was tied up in Ninja wire and bound by both shocking and silencing seals.
Akihane refused to look at the pouting man that happened to be her godfather, her eyes firmly trained ahead on Hiruzen as she scowled.
Hiruzen found the whole situation to be as funny as it was troubling. Akihane was rather well known to Kunoichi and even some Jonin as the Silver Tsunade Junior. She protested against any form of perverseness, even her Sensei's select habits. It was the reason that Sarutobi had banned his issues of Icha Icha from his office. If his little granddaughter found them, she would ignore him for weeks.
"So, I take it the two of you met then?"
Hiruzen decided to break the ice, watching as Akihane laugh humorlessly, twisting to look behind her.
Oh yes, the Sandaime had almost forgotten the very protective ANBU that was currently glaring holes in Jiraiya's body. Genma was decked in his Bear uniform, though he had doubled his position with his persona of Aki's brother as well. The man had been the one to stop Akihane from harming Jiraiya anymore than she already had. A few more seconds and Jiraiya would have been introduced to the rather creative seals that Aki had come up with alongside her friends.
"Well, how about you release Jiraiya Akihane-Chan. We have some talking to do and I'd rather he be able to explain or at least give his excuses."
Hiruzen called out, smiling gently when Aki glanced at him through her lashed for approval. At his nod, she held her right hand up in a release symbol, watching as Jiraiya's body was released from wire and sealing tags.
Bear stepped forward so that he was between Jiraiya and Aki, his mask angled ever so slightly in the Sannin's direction.
Akihane chuckled softly and raised her hands to activate the sound barrier in the room, humming softly to her older brother while Jiraiya go a hold of himself.
Jiraiya took one look at Genma's stance beside Akihane and opened his mouth to question it.
"Before you start, I'm just going to say nothing you have to mention will make me leave my brothers or choose a different path. Whether I am safe or not, I will not give up on my family Jiraiya." Akihane cut in before her godfather could speak, her eyes burning with a red fiery while her heart pounded in her chest.
The rest of the night dragged on with Akihane's statement lingering in the back of Jiraiya's mind.
I~~~~I
Shikamaru was the one that found her later on that day when the moon was beginning to rise. She was finishing her Taijutsu Katas, several clones working on her Chakra Control as well as her kenjutsu. She had a month to prepare for the Chunin Exam Finals, and so she would spend each day training accordingly.
The Nara stopped to take in her regimen as she straightened to greet him. Her eyes shifted across his body and a small smile worked its way over her lips as she took note of his rather lazy but fitting posture.
"Good evening Shikamaru-San."
Akihane offered pleasantly. Her eyes glinted in the gently morning light, the sun shining into them slightly.
Shikamaru sighed and smiled at her, waving lazily before he offered his own reply. "Hey Akihane."
The two stepped side by side, as they viewed Aki's clones. The white haired Genin did not stop even when their creator turned to Shikamaru.
"So, what brings you here Shikamaru-San? Did Shikaku-San need me?"
Aki questioned Shikamaru, her eyes narrowing faintly on him.
Shikamaru huffed and turned with her, the two walking in the direction of the village. A silent agreement to take a stroll flowed between them, emphasized by their movements.
"Tou-San wanted me to invite you for dinner. Also, your Uchiha came by asking about you. Apparently he's been trying to find you since he tried to bring you breakfast." Shikamaru said.
Another pause filled the air while Akihane tried to think. She had forgotten all about her agreement to have breakfast with Sasuke that day. Shikaku's invitation was also nice, but she would rather spend the night training herself to the point where she slept through any nightmares.
The seal on her stomach tingled, her fingers twitching as her body temperature abruptly lowered. Her fingers burned from the sudden cold, but within a few seconds, it vanished. Another side effect from Yin's seal Akihane figured.
The meeting with Jiraiya had not been what she had expected at all. She was prepared for yelling, screaming, anything but the cold hearted silence that rained down as Jiraiya finished explaining himself. Of course, she had broken it by telling him all that had happened with her, but that didn't change the way Hiruzen seemed to age before her eyes or how Genma grew more and more tense around Jiraiya as time went on.
Shikamaru seemed to sense she was having trouble thinking over the past events, and so he remained quiet and allowed her to think clearly. Nothing was said as they walked out of the forest into town. The rising moon lit their backs, but neither of them cared too much as they moved toward the other side of the village.
What will all the crazy things happening in her life, Akihane found that she rather enjoyed Shikamaru's silent invite to simply talk and walk.
After the insanity that had occurred during the past week, Akihane was not that surprised to find she had spent the time that she was supposed to be sleeping with Shikamaru.
The Nara's eyes had watched her every move ever since the First Exam, therefore when Shikamaru continued to observe her interactions with him, Akihane wasn't surprised.
The establishments in the Shinobi District were caught under the light of the moon, casting ethereal shadows over the empty streets.
"Akihane, what's your plan for the Third Exam?" Shikamaru asked as he stepped into a building's shadow. His voice was light on the Uzumaki's sensitive ears, his chakra thrumming under his skin as it brushed across her concealed chakra.
Akihane to a moment and glanced toward Shikamaru, having been snapped from her melancholy thoughts. The Ivory teen debated what the Nara had questioned of her, before she answered with light words, a soft smile drifting over her lips.
"I'll be training with my brothers I suppose…" A simple smile fell away seconds after it had been achieved, leaving a pleasant and open atmosphere in its wake.
Shikamaru had to turn his head off toward the forest as light fell over the Uzumaki. The Nara turning away had avoided Akihane witnessing him flushing in embarrassment. Akihane's beauty shone best at night; her features highlighted in the best ways that made Shikamaru want to snap at his thoughts. The occasions that Shikamaru saw Akihane looking as she did now, relaxed, at ease, and happy were rare even before the debacle with the Second Exam, even more so following the incidents.
Feeling like he had paused a bit too long for Akihane not to suspect something was up with his thoughts, Shikamaru finally decided that his thoughts should be voiced. "Oh, them again? When are you going to ask Kakashi about them anyways?"
A light chuckle left Akihane's lips while a sharp glint entered her dark lavender orbs. The glint managed to snap Shikamaru from his earlier thoughts over Akihane's beauty, right back around to the girl's mischievous nature and her vulpine tendencies. The twinkle in Akihane's eyes was a dangerous one, the same twinkle that made Shikamaru remember his nickname for the Uzumaki beside him.
"He knows already, he just hasn't acted on it. Kakashi-Sensei won't be able to do anything though…I won't give them up, not even for him…" Akihane spoke firmly, the glint turning to steal as her voice dropped an octave.
Shikamaru couldn't stop himself as he turned to see Akihane's reaction to her own words, cataloguing the forlorn look that had befallen her features in the back of his mind where he kept every other look he had seen on the blonde's face.
The lunar light drifted overhead, and for another moment, the light bounced from Akihane's hair and highlighted her skin, the white battle kimono Akihane had traded for her coat during her training highlighting her ghostly appeal. The Uzumaki's eyes had turned a deep maroon again, expressing her darker emotions over the current topic.
Shikamaru's breath stilled in his throat, his chest feeling as though it were struck with Hinata's fist as he once more was halted by thoughts he really didn't think he should be having over the blonde walking beside him. The Nara felt his skin heat, and Shikamaru finally gained enough control to cough into his hand and turn his head to the side. Akihane glanced toward him, tilting her head as she chuckled softly, the gravely tone setting off warning bells in Shikamaru's head.
"A-Aki-" Shikamaru began, but he was unable to continue his statement. His body froze and he stood still suddenly. He was shocked by the disturbing sight that he now face faced.
A flash of steal and three figures that fought along the rooftops before them. One was dressed in a black cloak with another in sand Shinobi Garb and the final in a Jonin Uniform. None of them looked to be pretending or having a friendly spar. The random occurrence sent warning bells off in the Nara Heir's head.
Within an instant, the young Genin had tugged Akihane into a corner, lowering his chakra while he whispered for Akihane to do the same. His fingers only unwound from Akihane's wrist once she had done as asked. His gaze swept over the three parties, taking in the rather familiar form of a man he had seen in the Jonin Standby Station several times. The man was also the proctor for the preliminary rounds in the Chunin Exams. He was Gekko Hayate, an esteemed Kenjutsu specialist known throughout the elemental nations.
Uzumaki that she was Akihane was quick to sense the battling opponents and discern what Shikamaru had. Her eyes sharpened and she hissed into his ear quietly. "I-it's Hayate-Ni and that Sand Nin that was with Gaara…The other one feels familiar, but I can't place him."
Shikamaru nodded sharply to his fellow Nin. The Uzumaki beside him peered over his shoulder at the battle that played out before them both while the tension built around them.
Another rock settled in Shikamaru's stomach as he tried to hold back a gulp, and he instead reached into his weapons pouch to pull out a few Kunai. One blade was slipped to Akihane, the young Kunoichi having taken the blade while she worked on her instinct to protect her brother.
Shikamaru was certain that without him there Akihane would have jumped into the fight without a second thought, if only to save her brother.
I~~~~I
A grunt left Hayate's lips as he was forced back, his lungs aching while he deflected another blow and gathered his chakra. His eyes narrowed at the two traitors before him, the ones that would no doubt end up killing him.
It did not matter what really happened to him. However, the cloaked man was a Genin Konoha Nin named Yakushi Kabuto and he had threatened Hayate's little sister. Most people were smart enough to back off when it came to those a Konoha shinobi cared for, but it seemed that Kabuto hadn't learned that lesson yet. By threatening Akihane, Kabuto had signed his death warrant.
"I won't let you two live…Especially you Kabuto, no one who threatens Aki lives!"
Hayate shouted as he shot forward, arching his blade quickly. His movements were fluid in form and function, each one practiced daily without a single pause. Hayate knew this technique like the back of his own hand. He had been the one to teach it to Akihane, after all.
"Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
Images appeared along Genma's path as he shot toward Baki, a memory of Akihane right after her battle in the preliminary rounds flashing in his mind.
He never wanted to see that look of fear flashing across her face ever again. She was just as precious to him as Yugau and the others she had slowly ensnared into her web of precious people. He would not allow Kabuto to harm Aki. He could not allow that to happen.
I~~~~I
Hayate's body shifted into the form for Dance of the Crescent Moon, but instead of the technique activating and the two opposing Nin falling at his hand, Hayate found his technique blocked by an invisible force.
Akihane's breath caught in her throat while she watched Hayate's technique fail, her eyes widening while images of Shisui and Itachi flashed before her mind. Shisui had loved her until the very end. She still remembered holding his tags in her hands as she thought about never seeing him again. She remembered thinking about how her last memory of his smiling face was already fading.
A light gasp left her lips and she turned sharply to Shikamaru as Hayate was launched into the air. Her tightly bound emotions unraveled with a sharp tug at those few thoughts. Already the Kyuubi's chakra thrummed below the surface, blue lines beginning to work their way over her skin. The Ivory haired Kunoichi tugged at her chakra and forced it to combat Yin's intrusive force. As she did she also pulled at her training. Her features twisted into those of her endangered brother as she bit out words in a rush.
"Get ready." The Uzumaki managed to provide her partner, and without a warning, she began to form hand signs. Despite knowing the dangers of the Jutsu she was abusing, as well as the fact that she could very well die from this action, Akihane pushed forward with her plan.
Shikamaru reached out for her just too late and Akihane blurred out of sight as she finished her Jutsu.
I~~~~I
In an instant Akihane replaced Hayate's body with her own using a surge of chakra she rarely, if ever, used.
Akihane felt weightless when the blow meant for her guardian struck her instead. Her body ached and she gasped slightly, just before wind chakra surged and slammed into her. Pain coursed through her body, but her disguise held as the traitor's Jutsu tore her apart. She flew through the air and then slammed into a building behind her before she slumped forward and tumbled onto the roof below.
Another pained gasp left her lips the moment she hit the ground, but her chakra still held. Faintly she heard someone behind her landing as they spoke snidely. "Apparently I won't be dying tonight. Don't worry though…I'll make sure to pay extra attention to Akihane-Chan. I wonder if she would survive Orochimaru-Sama's cursed seal like the Uchiha boy did."
A deep chuckle left Kabuto's lips before he followed up on his earlier words. "For now, however, I want some information on your techniques."
Kabuto moved closer to the fake-Hayate, reaching for him. Akihane could hardly understand past the burning pains spreading over her body. Already the Uzumaki knew that the Kyuubi must have sensed her danger and decided to keep her alive despite Yin's seal still trying to eat away at his chakra. Had it not hurt so much Akihane would have smirked; instead, the Uzumaki slipped away while blue and red blended into a dark haze.
It was then that chakra pulsed outward. Kabuto's instincts were all that saved him and the Suna Nin named Baki from being burned when raging flames shot into the sky, the Konoha Nin's body consumed in the inferno.
Kabuto could only stare and wonder when the hell the Nin had time to use such a failsafe, before Baki had dragged him over the roof to hide from incoming ANBU troops alerted by the blaze. The flames were crimson, but as Kabuto glanced back, he swore that a fox's snout shot from the middle, a roar echoing in his ears as the heat failed to leave his limbs.
I~~~~I
Shikamaru and Hayate could only stare in horror at the raging blaze that had only grown as the seconds progressed. Akihane had indeed scared away her attackers; however, she was now stuck inside a deadly Jutsu.
"A-Aki…" Hayate whispered gently as his shadowed gaze swept across the flickering blaze in an attempt to locate even the partial form of his little sister. His heart beat painfully against his chest, his throat feeling rough and sore. Hayate did not even try to remove either sensation, gripping the shoulder of his current support tightly as his eyes blurred.
Feet landed beside them, the steps light. Hayate knew that those the steps belonged to could have concealed their presence from them, but they hadn't. Instead, a familiar body closed in on him, though the rather decorated bear mask adorned his face.
Genma glanced to both of them. He then turned and barked orders to a familiar body that shot toward the two original witnesses while Genma and several others turned toward the now docile fire. The heat was not as unbearable as before, nevertheless, the blaze still seemed to be very much alive.
"Neko, patch them up, Tora you and Kaeru help me put out that fire!" Genma shouted above everything, his hazel orbs cold behind the façade of Kuma.
Hayate mostly ignored Neko as his girlfriend healed him, his eyes and attention intently focused on the dwindling element before him. Right now he was grateful that Genma had been picked for the Night watch, because the ANBU member and his squad were able to find Akihane when she somehow was mixed up in his battle.
Just then, the fire became nothing more than flickering embers and Akihane's body became revealed amidst the smoke. Her face was slightly burned though her lower body had mostly closed the large wounds up. Blood had still covered her fishnet top, turning the grey a deep wine.
"Akihane!"
Genma shouted from the sidelines, his pretenses forgotten as he launched to the fallen body. Hayate jerked, trying to rush to the girl, only to find a hand on his shoulder that stopped him.
When the Jonin turned to see who had held him back, since Neko, or Yugau as he knew her to be, had shot after Genma upon Akihane's mention, he was shocked to see the Genin from before. Nara Shikamaru tightened his grip further, his eyes darkening past their normal deep brown. The boy's face had settled into something rather impassive. If it was not for the tense set in the boy's shoulders Hayate might have been fooled by the Nara.
Hayate calmed himself as he took note of the friend that Akihane had just ditched to go and get herself hurt. Suddenly Hayate's pain didn't feel as great when compared to the betrayal and horrified anguish that the boy held in his brown orbs.
I~~~~I
Hours passed with Yugau working on Akihane in Hayate's home.
Genma, Raidou, Iwashi, Hayate, the Sandaime, and Shikamaru all waited outside in the hall, Genma pacing while the Sandaime and Raidou talked to release the tension.
When the shogi door slid open to reveal an exhausted Yugau, all heads turned in her direction.
Yugau gave them a slightly smile, pulling the door shut behind her. "She'll make it…"
The tension was released, several shoulders slumping while Genma fell back against the wall. Hayate broke out in soft gasps of laughter, leaning back on the wall as he shut his eyes. "Thank Kami…"
Yugau walked toward her boyfriend, slipping down beside him. Her arm wrapped around his shoulder, pulling him into her side as she allowed herself to relax as well. "Just be glad you got her here when you did. A second later…"
A shake of her head completed her statement, the weight of her words falling on each one of them.
Sarutobi bit back a groan at the mess that Akihane had managed to put herself into this time. He was rather done with all of the stress his Granddaughter and his Ninja caused.
Speaking of grief from certain Ninja, the Sandaime could feel another causer approaching Hayate's home at a frantic pace. His gaze lingered on the Shogi door Akihane rested behind before he angled his head toward the entrance to the hall. Everyone else looked up in time with him as they felt the sharp signature that belonged to only one Nin. The Ivory Jonin on their minds stepped inside seconds after they turned to the door leading into the main hall. Iruka rushed in behind him, his face ashen and pulled tight.
The Sandaime had no doubts that Kakashi had forced Iruka to take him to Akihane the moment he had sent his message to him.
Kakashi froze as he entered the area, his eye widening at the sight of several more surprising people. No doubt Kakashi hadn't expected for the rest of the guard platoon to be in attentendance, let alone with the Hokage present. There was a pause before Kakashi opened his mouth in order to demand answers from them.
Sarutobi held a hand up quickly, silencing Kakashi as he slowed himself to a stop before the aged Hokage.
"She's okay Kakashi, just resting. Yugau pulled her out of it just in time."
Kakashi's lone eye visibly brightened, before his emotions drained away and the orb looked toward two men huddled beside the unmasked Genma.
"R-Raidou, Iwashi?"
His voice broke slightly and confusion was heard in his voice as he looked over each of the former Hokage Guard Platoon.
Genma, Iwashi, and Raidou all shared looks before Iwashi stood and Genma walked over to his two partners.
"Hatake…"
Raidou spoke first, shifting on his right leg as he observed Kakashi.
The Copy Nin stiffened and spoke accusingly. "Y-You…you shouldn't be here…"
Genma stepped forward, speaking above Kakashi's dark tone.
"No, we are allowed here Hatake, because we care about our Imuto. You may not understand why we know her or how this all happened but know this. Akihane is currently a hero for her stupid actions. She risked her life for that of a fellow shinobi. She followed your code of ethics Hatake, and she put herself in danger to save Hayate when she had no need to…Be proud of her and lay off of us for just a moment."
With those words spoke, Genma turned and nodded toward Hayate. The male's eyes widened slightly as he too rose to his feet, although he was aided by Yugau up until Genma took her place. After that the two of them slid open the Shogi door leading into Akihane's room. Neither looked back as it slid shut behind them.
Yugau watched them go, her eyes displaying worry and relief. She then turned toward her former captain, inclining her head as she whispered to him gently. Her voice almost cracked as she thought over the possibility of losing Hayate or Akihane to those traitorous Nin.
"He's right Senpai…without Akihane, Hayate…H-Hayate wouldn't be here."
I~~~~I
Let it be known that Akihane hated to be weak or kept in bed. She hated being fawned over or treated like glass. By the end of her fifth day in bed she declared she was done with all of her sibling's mother Henning. Instead, she decided to enjoy herself by starting her training up again. It was on that day that Jiraiya happened to walk into Hayate's home to find Yugau and Raidou trying to wrestle the stubborn ivory female back into bed.
Akihane easily maneuvered around the two and she tugged her jacket over her shoulders before she pulled her braid out to lie against her back, retorting to the two clucking and worried adults in a plain manner.
"I have only a month to actually train to defeat my opponent, Raidou-Ni. Right now I need to start training; I'm already at a disadvantage of a week."
Her eyes drifted past them and slipped to where Jiraiya stood. Her deep red orbs softened to the original lavender while she rose to her full height. She was still rather small, Jiraiya noted.
The Uzumaki inclined her head in the Sannin's direction as she pulled her sleeves down over her hands that happened to be covered in gray bandages. Her lip twitched and her eyes glinted as she addressed her Godfather disrespectfully. "Good to see you again Ero-Sennin."
Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched and he huffed in annoyance while narrowing his eyes on the brat he called his goddaughter. He teeth snapped together as he replied to her with, "Oi, respect your elders Gaki!"
Akihane's spitfire attitude curled and lashed out at Jiraiya after being confined for so long. "Oh really? I'd rather not respect some old goat who spies on woman's baths, including mine."
Jiraiya's face flushed and he shouted back at the girl in an effort to defuse her words. "Gaki! I didn't know it was you!"
Akihane's lips pressed into a line and her muscles twitched as she readied to leap, only to stop at a dangerous sound from behind her. Eyebrows were twitching and hands inched closer to the handles of weapons as Yugau and Raidou turned their annoyance onto the Toad Sage.
"Lord Jiraiya…You did what!?" Yugau shouted at the Gama Sennin. Her voice dropped several octaves and Raidou let out an eerie chuckle in the man's direction.
Immediately Jiraiya was trying to defuse their anger, shouting at the top of his lungs as they advanced on him.
A smirk was sent in the man's direction before Akihane shifted and fled through the Shogi doors leading outside, reaching down to snatch her boots from the doorway as she went. Jiraiya groaned and turned tail to run, cursing his luck over wanting to wish his goddaughter a speedy recovery, only to end up as the one needing the wish.
I~~~~I
Shikamaru had been worried all week, unable to visit Akihane and see if she was all right. He merely got the information from Iruka that she wasn't in any life threatening danger, but millions of other things could have gone wrong. Shikaku had already started to notice his son's detached mindset. Just the other night the Jonin commander had questioned his son, only to be gifted with a quick and far from thorough answer.
Shikamaru was not looking forward to returning home that night.
Other than that the Hokage had already released information on Hayate's 'passing' to the village, setting the Sand Nin at ease and convincing the attackers their plan was safe.
The Nara happened to be the only Genin besides Akihane that knew the truth of the matter, only those Chunin and higher getting briefed on the true purpose of the Third Exam, while the rest of the Genin competing would be notified halfway through the month so as not to alarm them.
The weight of all the information was quite troublesome for the Nara, but no more so than Akihane's absence.
Since their teaming up during the Second Exam, the Nara had grown to seek out Akihane's presence. The radiant sarcastic nature and calculative eyes that never failed to bring out Shikamaru's need to work hard while halting all procrastination that may have otherwise occurred in the blonde's absence. The Uzumaki had become more than a simple member of the Rookie Nine, she had become something familiar for Shikamaru to look towards.
Sharp and heavy, a sigh broke through Shikamaru's nose at such thoughts. The Nara closed his eyes against the rays of the sun poking through the nearly cloudless sky. The day was perfect for training, a light breeze guaranteeing there would be zero chances of overheating.
"Don't think so hard Shikamaru-San, you might actually do something." A voice called from in front of him. A teasing edge broke through his senses, setting him on alert.
Shikamaru's eyes snapped open, gazing directly into lavender pools as they twinkled with some emotion and lips twisted into a smirk upon paled skin.
White strands were pulled back into a rather tiny ponytail, exposing familiar features to the dark brown eyes of the Nara Heir.
Shikamaru's hand had gripped his kunai and tossed it at the troublesome woman before the other could stop him.
The Uzumaki dodged, but she also retaliated, setting the normally lazy genius into his fighting stance several feet away.
I~~~~I
When Team Eight came to retrieve their lazy comrade, they had to stop just outside the training ground so as not to be caught in the middle of an intense battle.
Before them he ground was ripped apart by Jutsu and the like, mud patches scattered along with burnt zones; furthermore, the marred landscape also played host too many littered weapons and scrolls.
In the middle Shikamaru fought hand-to-hand with Akihane, the two twisting around each other in deadly grace while trying to gain the upper hand. Shikamaru's chest heaved while Akihane shifted to flick sweat from her brow, the two never once losing their concentration on the battle they took part in then.
Akihane's palm strikes were sidestepped while her kicks were redirected or blocked. The girl's quickly shifting fingers drew deadly weapons that clashed with the kunai Shikamaru had grabbed from the ground as he began pushing the Uzumaki back.
Another quick kick followed by a palm strike that slammed right next to Shikamaru's feet as well as a quick swipe to his ankles forced the Nara back once more. Akihane turned the tables for but a moment before the scale evened out once more when Shikamaru's shadows shifted underfoot, trying and failing to catch Akihane unaware.
Neither Genin would let up, their dance becoming more frantic and yet more synchronized as they worked.
Soft smiles and admiring gazes continued to view the dance, Asuma resting his back against a tree while he shook his head over the situation in thinly veiled amusement.
Of course, the only one who would actually be able to convince such a lazy Nara to work would be a woman, one like Akihane no less.
Honestly, Asuma wasn't too surprised by such a turn in events. The Jonin had noticed Shikamaru's tendency to seek out the Uzumaki before the kid himself had, resulting in many moments Asuma had dubbed as his own personal 'blackmail'.
Akihane added a sharp knee to the swipe she had just hit Shikamaru with and sent the older male sprawling before he once again stood. The two shot at another again.
Yes, Asuma had to say he had quite the collection of blackmail on Shikamaru. He chuckled and looked to his feet.
Choji and Ino both sat down next to Asuma. The Jonin noticed that Ino's eyes burned while she watched Akihane dance around Shikamaru again. To think, Sakura and Ino only needed to see Akihane actually move in order to get rid of their childish notions. The Second Exam had brought many things, and Asuma could only be thankful for the change it imprinted into each of his students.
For now, the changes would only help the Genin.
I~~~~I
Dang that took a while. A small part of this chapter was typed up a long time ago, about October last year, but it needed to be finished. I have a few more like this lingering in the mess of chapters I'm working through, but it's still insane. I'm sorry about the time it took me to update. Homecoming came around the corner and bit be in the butt, and then I had to go to a dance last night as well as a sleepover for one of my friend's birthday parties. I really hope that school won't get too hectic and I can still keep up my schedule but I'm not too sure anymore. As it stands I have a test a week a least and my English teacher seems to enjoy assigning grammar papers that we don't need. Also, graphing sentences was put out of practice a long time ago and yet she still insists we need to know how to do so. Not to mention she wants us using more interjections, prepositions, adverb phrases, and adjective phrases in our writing. It bugs a lot, so sorry if the 'conditioning' ruins some of the story flow. Just let me know if something looks odd and I'll try to go back over it.
Drabble-Ramen and Iwa NinShe felt safer than she had in quite a long time.
When it came down to it, Akihane was very meticulous with which people counted as precious.
They were the ones that comforted her just by being around, the ones that had shown her trued kindness and hadn't allowed worldly views to cloud their judgement of her.
At the top of the list was Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sandaime
It did not matter whether the man was exasperated with her actions or smiling brighter than anyone she had seen.
All that mattered was Hiruzen; all that mattered was that he was there.
It was for that reason Akihane loved the Hokage Tower so much.
The office Hiruzen had resided in for years had so many of his personal touches.
His chakra littered every surface, the pages of each book decorating the shelves and along each gran of wood bound together in the flooring.
Not one single area in the office was untouched by the Kage, leaving it to radiate his warmth and power.
Akihane chuckled softly when she heard her grandfather figure curse at a particular piece of paperwork, her fingers working the book she had opened above her to the next page.
The ivory teen lay on the plush red couch in the Hokage office, reading the one book of Jiraiya's that she quite enjoyed.
The look that had appeared on Kakashi's face when he had stopped by to check up on her and found her reading one of the Sannin's books was well worth the confusion over her taste in literature.
Even the Sarutobi men had both mistaken her green book for something less innocent than an adventure story.
Another heavy groan echoed and the pen was dropped to the desk as Sarutobi ducked his head in a sorrowful and stressed gesture.
As per usual whenever Akihane decided to stay a night in the Tower, she marked her page and closed her reading material, before she slowly rose from the couch.
Normally Hinata or Sasuke accompanied her, but that particular night found Sasuke training with Kakashi and Hinata training with Kurenai. That left Akihane all on her own to face the dreaded force of Hiruzen's worst nightmare.
"Jiji-San, take a break. How about we get something to eat?"
Akihane offered her grandfather figure, watching as he gained a contemplating look before he seemed to give in.
The aged Kage rose slowly, meeting her gaze before he smiled and offered an arm in her direction. Akihane let out a chuckle before she walked toward him and took his arm, the two walking out of the office in comfortable silence.
Sarutobi pretended not to notice Akihane summoning two clones to deal with the civilian paperwork, pushing it off to the category of things he loved about the girl.
The two of them walked side-by-side down the stairs of the tower, exiting the building without pause.
In Konoha, the sight of Akihane clinging to the Sandaime Hokage wasn't that rare.
Most of the villagers were disgruntled with the girl's close relationship with their leader, but none of them could put an end to it.
The Shinobi often were not sure what they were supposed to think or they simply saw it as their Leader keeping his eye on their Jinchuuriki.
Now, during the Chunin Exams, the shock was more evident.
Foreigners were out grabbing the last bites of Konoha's cuisine, and when Akihane decided to slip into Ichiraku Ramen with the Sandaime, the two ran into one of the more pressing teams.
Red and brown clothes dotted with black or white stood out greatly in the white and red colors of the Ramen Stand, the bright blonde hair of one member shining like a beacon while the laughter of the female sensei and her cheery raven student rung through the flaps.
Akihane paused as the blonde, Darui, spotted her walk in.
The rest of the Iwa team seemed to quiet down, turning toward her as she caught their gaze.
Her lips twitched slightly.
With a nod in Darui's direction Akihane turned toward Hiruzen.
The Hokage had an amused tilt to his lips as they both sat down and ordered their bowls, Akihane chatting calmly with Teuchi.
It would be a shock to Ninja not from Hi no Kuni to see a 'simple' Genin walking alongside her Kage, talking with him and having dinner with him. Akihane chalked it all down as her own personal mind game.
